SDF National Traineeship
The SDF National Traineeship provides supported learning and in-work placements to prepare for a career in social care.
Lived and living experience is a strength and a resource in delivering effective treatment and support services. SDF National Traineeship provides a pathway into employment for people with lived experience.
About The SDF National Traineeship
The National Traineeship is a supported pathway into employment that prepares people for employment through supported learning and in-work placements over a nine-month period.
The National Traineeship takes account of participants’ unique background and experience and ensures everyone gets the level of support they need to help them succeed.
Since 2004, this award-wining programme has supported and trained people with lived experience into work.
90% of people who start the National Traineeship complete it and graduate from the programme.
85% of graduates secure employment, mostly in the drug, alcohol, and wider social care field.
90
90% of people recruited to the traineeship since 2004 have completed the programme
85
85% of trainee graduates have secured jobs at the end of the traineeship
40
at least 40 partners providing learning, training, development, and placement opportunities for our trainees across Scotland
400
over 400 people have been recruited to the traineeship since it was established in 2004
Who can join the SDF National Traineeship?
The National Traineeship is available for people with personal lived and living experience of substance use who feel ready for employment in social care.
Trainees receive:
- access to a programme of specialist training
- a fully funded SVQ qualification
- intensive support – including support with IT skills, and your own digital device.
- a supported work placement learning how to support people in drug, alcohol, and support services
Trainees are offered a monthly salary paid at the Real Living Wage, and a fixed term contract of 27.5 hours per week for 39 weeks.
Becoming a partner organisation and placement provider for The SDF National Traineeship
SDF works with a wide range of organisations and services across Scotland who provide essential work experience for National Traineeship trainees.
Recruited to the programme and managed directly by SDF, trainees are supported on a day-to-day basis during their work placement by a member of your team, who you would dedicate as a workplace mentor. This role offers a fantastic development opportunity for a member of your team.
The type of activity trainees will carry out at placement reflect the requirements of the SVQ awards. During the initial weeks, trainees shadow colleagues, get to know staff and the people who access the service, and learn about organisational policies and procedures.
In subsequent weeks and months, trainees can be supervised to participate in the tasks of support workers, supporting people who access the service, liaising with other agencies, and in some cases, carrying out assessments and key-working sessions.
Service managers often report that our trainees and programme graduates enhance service provision and become high quality workers who integrate well into teams and are able to provide fresh perspectives to service delivery.
The traineeship is offered nationally, and supported by many region-specific services. If you would like more information or would like to discuss how your service could support the National Traineeship, please contact employability@sdf.org.uk
Becoming a supporter and funder of the SDF National Traineeship
The scale of the National Traineeship programme and number of places available each year is determined by the level of funding secured.
The Traineeship has been supported locally by a range of trust and grant funders including Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) across Scotland.
The Traineeship provides a pathway into employment for people with lived experience. 90% of people who start The Traineeship graduate from the programme and 85% of graduates secure employment, mostly in the drug, alcohol, and wider social care field.
The Traineeship addresses multiple inequalities, and stigma linked to substance use. Through employed status as participants and then on gaining further employment, graduates are strong role models for people using services and within local communities.
For local service planners, commissioners and managers, The Traineeship provides people with lived and living experience a pathway to employment in social care services in their community and increases the capacity and effectivesness of those services who benefit from new trained enthusiastic and engaged staff who bring their own insights into the issues faced by people using services.
SDF are keen to explore opportunities to develop the Traineeship and deliver to more beneficiaries. If you would like more information or would like to discuss sponsorship of trainee places and support the programme, please contact employability@sdf.org.uk
